Preparing birds for life in the wild: New technique boosts survival after release
Preparing birds for life in the wild: New technique boosts survival after release
Preparing birds for life in the wild: New technique boosts survival after release
Every year, thousands of parrots confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade arrive at rehabilitation centers across Latin America. For many of these birds, rescue centers can provide safety but not n...
In a study recently published in Bird Conservation International, the research team found that confiscated yellow-crowned Amazon parrots trained using free-flight techniques showed strong survival, flock cohesion and site fidelity after release in Colombia, demonstrating the promise of the technique as a conservation tool.
The birds in the study had been confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade as chicks and arrived at FL's rehabilitation center around fledging age, when wild parrots naturally begin learning crucial survival skills.
The research team gradually trained the birds to fly longer distances by rewarding them with hand-feeding formula. As the parrots gained confidence, they were introduced to the outdoor environment, where they could begin exploring the landscape while still receiving support.